John Locke

In An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, John Locke sets out to construct his brand of epistemology and refine his definition of empiricism. Rather than contending that the mind is imprinted with information instinctually, Locke argues that not only does all knowledge stems from the subject’s experience of the material world by means of the subject’s senses. The senses, Locke argues, are “infallible” and the sole means by which we organize knowledge. To demonstrate the necessity of the senses for knowledge, Locke proposes that all experience is derived from external objects (Argument of Book IV, Chapter XI, Section 4) and by means of geometric analogy, Locke contends that sensory experience’s reliability is comparable to that of mathematical demonstration (Argument Book IV, Chapter XI, Section 6.2). By demonstrating the necessary input of external stimuli for experience and the reliability of the sensations that subsequently arise, Locke seeks to demonstrate the infallibility of the externally derived sensory experience.

To argue the derivation of sensation from external beings, Locke implores the reader to contend a case in which a man is in the dark and a case in which a man experiences winter. “’ [T]is …show more content…
Coincidentally the phenomena’s inception begins with simple geometric forms before progressing to complex animated beings. The demonstration of these phenomena in combination with Locke’s use of fallacious logical reasoning, while perhaps still producing evidence for his position, prevent Locke from conclusively demonstrating his